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Trends in grass pollen season in southern Spain

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Abstract

The main characteristics of Poaceae pollen season at 8 sites in Andalusia were studied. Special attention was paid in the trends of grass pollen-season start and peak dates. Moreover, we analyse the intensity of the grass pollen season over the study period as well as potential temporal and spatial patterns in these data. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the possible influence of weather-related parameters on variations in the grass pollen season. Main results show an advance in the start and peak of grass pollen season and an increase in the annual Pollen Index and in the severity of the season (days > 25 pollen grains/m3). The future consequences of these changes in grass phenology could be related with changes in land use and also in pollinosis symptoms due to the higher concentrations recorded but also to the variations on pollen season dates.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the European Social Fund for co-financing, to the Spanish Ministry of Science for the “Ramón y Cajal” contract awarded to Dr. García-Mozo and to the Andalusian Regional Government Department of Science and Technology for funding the project entitled “Análisis del polen atmosférico como bioindicador de la calidad del aire y de los efectos del cambio climático en la fenología y biodiversidad de los ecosistemas andaluces” P06-RNM-02034.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Edificio Celestino Mutis (C4), Campus de Rabanales, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071, Córdoba, Spain

    Herminia García-Mozo, C. Galán, P. Alcázar & E. Domínguez-Vilches

  2. Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18001, Granada, Spain

    C. Díaz de la Guardia & D. Nieto-Lugilde

  3. Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, 29080, Málaga, Spain

    M. Recio

  4. Departamento Biología Ambiental y Salud Pública Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Campus de El Carmen Avda. de las Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 21071, Huelva, Spain

    P. Hidalgo

  5. Departamento Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, 41071, Sevilla, Spain

    F. Gónzalez-Minero

  6. Departamento Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales de Jaén, Campus Universitario Paraje Las Lagunillas, 23071, Jaén, Spain

    L. Ruiz

Authors
  1. Herminia García-Mozo
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  2. C. Galán
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  3. P. Alcázar
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  4. C. Díaz de la Guardia
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  5. D. Nieto-Lugilde
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  6. M. Recio
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  7. P. Hidalgo
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  8. F. Gónzalez-Minero
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  9. L. Ruiz
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  10. E. Domínguez-Vilches
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Correspondence to Herminia García-Mozo.

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García-Mozo, H., Galán, C., Alcázar, P. et al. Trends in grass pollen season in southern Spain. Aerobiologia 26, 157–169 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-009-9153-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-009-9153-3

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